August 9, 2015

We have been talking about praying for our nation and community.  Prayer is not just one word, one sentence, or one thought.  It is more than the bowing of knees or raising of hands or elevation of our voice.  Sometimes we behave as though prayer must be offered only ONE way; or even worse, we act as though it is the recitation of some sort of magical language that if said just the right way or with the proper voice inflection, then God will somehow move.

In 1 Timothy 2:1, the Apostle Paul doesn’t just say to, “pray.” Rather, He outlines four different parts, portions, types of praying…a PANORAMA of PRAYER that he expects Timothy and the Early Church to practice.

1 Timothy 2:1 NIV84 - I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--

There are several words for prayer in the Scriptures and four of them are used in verse one:

1. “REQUESTS” - This is Prayer that is the expression of NEED: Personal, Corporate, National, and              International
2. “PRAYERS” -  This is prayer that Practices the Presence of God; Worship; Speaking with Him in Holy  COMMUNION.
3. “INTERCESSION” - This is prayer that is “standing in the gap;” coming alongside to help someone  else; Requests on behalf of OTHERS as if they were our own.
4. “THANKSGIVING” - This is both a prayer and an attitude.  God has called us to have an “Attitude of  APPRECIATION” and to express gratitude to God for specific blessings.

The Word of God not only tells us to pray in a multitude of ways, but also for a multitude of people.  In fact, 1 Timothy 2:1 in the NIV says to pray for “everyone,” and another translation says to pray for “all humanity.”  This is not just our church and family, friends, and personal needs, but God wants us to be positively involved in the lives of others by praying for them.  “ALL HUMANITY” is quite a large group and it will even include those who behave as an Enemy to us and to the Cross; but like Christ at Golgotha, these are probably the ones who are most in need of our prayer.